Refrigerator car hatch arrangement



Nov. 12, 1940. A. w. LQHARTBAUER 2,220,901

REFRIGERATOR CAR HATCH ARRANGEMENT n- @5 z3 4; j

/i 55 5 52 58/11-47 K6 g v 45 44 l m 2 @7M/2% Off Nov. 12, 1940. A W, L, HARTBAUER 2,220,901

REFRIGERATOR CAR HATCH ARRANGEMENT 4 Filed oct. 17, 193B 3 sheets-sheet 2 NOV. 12, 1940. A W- L HARTBAUER 2,220,901

REFRIGERATR CAR HATCH ARRNGEMENT Filed Oct. 17, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. l2, 1940 PATENT OFFICE nEFnrGEnAroa can HATCH ARRANGE-v MEN'r August WJL. Hartbauer. Chicm, lll.

Application October 17, 1938, Serial No. 235,415

' 1 claims. (ci. 29e-256.5)

form or other roof sections in the path of op' erators, as an act to promote safety. Another form of mechanism in use on a limited number of cars employs a cast lever, swingably mounted l on a car body bracket, adapted to be moved crosswise of the hatch cover toward` its closed position or rearward to its release position, this position being approximately degrees off the vertical and xed by the complemental stops of 20 the body bracket. A lever so placed obstructs the path of trainmen and other operators who, as they walk about, choose to move the lever out of this position into the hatch opening or on the hatch cover in the interest of their safety. It is the object of this invention, to provide the operating lever of the closure mechanism with a hinged extension, as a means of providing more adequately for ease of operation and to definitely and automatically x the relative position of the operating lever and its extension in all positions, thereby insuring unobstructed roof platforms or running boards.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent and more fully described in connection with the following description taken with the accompanying drawings showing embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made in the parts and details of construction 4.0 without departing from the principles of the invention. I, therefore, do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and illustrated, but in the claims hereinafter set forth I intend to cover all modifications and variations of the inventlon.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a refrigerator car hatch embodying the hatch cover mechanism of the invention, a portion of the operating lever web being cut away to show the locking means more clearly;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a refrigerator car hatch cover and the mechanism of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken upon the line A-A of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and shows the hatch cover in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3, and shows the hatch Vcover raised slightly bythe 6: reaction of the gasket as the mechanism is released, also the operating lever resting on the hatch cover bracket extension;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation with the cover positioned as in Figure 4, the operating lever with 10 its extension being Ashown in full release position,` supported by the car body bracket;

Fig. 6 is an elevation showing the hatch cover positioned in a stage of ventilation supported by the hatch cover extension as it engages the re- 15 spective supporting bar of the operating lever;

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary front elevation showing the hatch cover and the lever in a stage of ventilation, with the sliding lock -of the hatch cover bracket moved into operative position, re- 20 stricting the upward movement of the hatch cover and providing means for the application ff' of the railroad seal; i

Fig. 8 is a side elevation with a section of the hatch cover shown in full open position. In this 25.

construction the extension bracket is of single unit design and adapted for direct attachment to the body part. The operating lever and the attached extension areshown in full lines in the ultimate position by lateral movement from the 30 release position of Figure 5. The view also shows by dot and dash lines the limit of crosswise movement of the operating lever and that the lever extension is held substantially vertical by the mechanism throughout this movement; 35

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the operating lever extension bracket;

Fig. 10 is an elevation` of the operating lever extension bracket;

Fig. 11 is a side view of the operating lever 40 extension;

Fig. 12 is a front view of the operating lever extension;

Fig. 13 is a side view of the operating lever; 45

Fig, 14 is a bottom plan view of the operating lever;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to Figure 8, embodying the modified lever and guide means of Figures 18 and i9; 50

Fig. 16 is a plan view showing a modied type of operating lever extension bracket over that shown in Figure 9, and intended for use in combination with the operating lever of Figures 18 and 19; 55.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary side view of\the bearing end of the operating lever showing a modified vtype of guide portion and retaining flange. for use with the lever shown in Figures 16 and 17;

Fig'. 19 is a fragmentary bottom view of the bearing end of the operating lever shown in Fig. 18.

As illustrative of the invention, there is shown a portion of a railway car refrigerator hatch arrangement in which the hatch opening is formed by hatch members I contoured as shown, -having a flange 2 for attachment to the frame members 3. Said hatch members I are shaped to provide a gasket contact surface 4 at its top rim and have an outwardly extending portion 5 acting as a support and attachment flange for the roof sheet 8, the space 1 formed by the hatch frame and roof parts to be suitably insulated. The hatch cover` 8 may be constructed in any well known Amanner and be arranged to provide a gasket contact-surface I4, a retaining groove I5, and a gasket attachment surface I8. The gasket I1 is -provided with a relatively short flange at its contact surface and when placed in contact with the hatch cover in the assembly, the gasket I1 rests on the surface I4'with the relatively short flange positioned in the groove I5 with the edge contacting the surface I8 and secured thereto with nails I8, leaving the forward edge I9 free to flex. f

One edge of the hatch cover 8 is supported by u hinges as shown in Figures 1, 6 and 8. The hinge straps 28 'are secured to the hatch cover 8 by rivets 2I and the hinge butts 22 are secured to the hatch frame 5 with rivetsl 23 and assembled with the hinge straps 28 by a rivet or bolt 25. 'I'he hatch cover bracket 28 is angular in shape and secured to .the hatch cover 8 with rivets 21, the vertical ange 28 of the bracket 28- being provided with a hook shaped extension 38 as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 6. The top surface 29 of the body portion 38 is arcuate, the downwardly extending portion 3i being spaced apart from the vertical flange 28. The flange 28 is provided with a bearing 32, movably supporting the sliding bolt 33, the bearing 32 being open at the back to facilitate the assembly of the bolt 33 at the instance of the application of the hatch cover bracket 26 to the hatch cover 8. 'I'he ange of the hatch cover 8 forms complemental retaining means when assembled, the ange 34 of the sliding bolt 33 being provided with aperture 35 adapted to act as a means for the application of the railroad `seal and used only to maintain the assembly in any Ventilating stage as shown in Figure '7. To regulate the stroke of the bolt 33, the integral lug 38 is adapted to contact the stop surface 31 of the bearing 32 of the flange 28 of the hatch cover bracket 28. The cantilever bracket 38 extends rearwardly and is formed integral with the top flange of the hatch cover bracket 28, its bottom surface 39 being substantially parallel to the said top iiange.

To support the hatch cover8 in the fully open position in such manner that no part of the operating mechanism fouls the car roof 8, brackets 48 are provided and secured to the hatch cover 8 with rivets 4I'. A grab iron "42 is secured to the hatch cover 8 with rivets 43 and the body bracket 44 is secured to the hatch frame or the body part 5 with rivets 45. The operating lever extension bracket 48, best shown in Figures 9 and 10, is

provided with stop lugs `41 and assembled on the bracket 44 by welding its flanges 49 to the bracket 44 at 58. The anges 5I and 52 of the bracket 46 are-arcuate and integral with base portion 53 and connected to the bearing housing 54 by the web 55, the flange 52 being .backset from the upper end of the flange 5I and providedy with a flared end 56, said flared end 58 extending above the flanges 5I and 52.

The operating lever extension 51, best shown in Figures 1l and 12, 'is pivotally mounted on the bracket 48 by means of a rivet or bolt 58. The side walls 59 and 88 are provided with stop lugs 8| and are spaced apart and adapted to converge foaming the uppe'r bearings 62. The operating lever 83 is provided with a bearing 84 and is as- \\sembled with the operating lever extension 51 by the wrist pin 85 which is secured in the bearing of the operating lever 84 with a rivet 88 or some other accepted manner.' 'I'he oblong guide portion 81, best shown in Figures 13 and 14, is integral with the operating lever bearing 84 and projects from said bearing 84 forming the substantially parallel contact surfaces 68 and 89. The retaining ange 18, integral with the lever bearing 64, is set back from the end 1I of the guide portion 81 and spirals rearward from the surface 89 of the guide portion 61. The operating lever 83 is channel shaped with the flanges 12 and 13 connected by the web 14, the web 14 being transposed at the lever bearing 84 to provide the bearing surface 15, the portion rearward said bearing serving to space apart the flanges 12 and 13. The anges support the spaced cross bars 18, the edges of the flanges 12 and 13 being contoured to form the complemental locking surfaces 11 for the slide bolt 33, best shown in Figures 6, 7, 13 and 14. The sliding bar -18 has a lug 19 adjacent one end thereof, said lug 19 being provided with an aperture 88 for use in vconnection with the railroad seal means. The said sliding bar 18 is mounted on the operating lever 83 and the sliding movement of the b ar 18 is gauged by the retaining means 8| contacting the slots 82 andl 83 of the operating lever iianges 12 and 13.

'Ihe modified operating lever extension bracket 89, best shown in Figures 16 and 1'7, is provided with stop lugs 41 assembled on the bracket 44 by welding its flanges49 to the bracket 44 at 58, as shown in Figure 15. 'I'he arcuate flange 98 is integral with the bearing 44 and is provided with a bearing surface 93, also parallel surfaces 9| and 92. v

The operating lever extension 51, bestshown in Figures 11 and 12, is movably mounted on the bracket 89 with a rivet or bolt 58, as shown in Figure 15. 'I'he side walls 59 and 68 are provided with stop lugs 6I, spaced apart and adapted to converge forming the upper bearings 82. The operating lever 83 is provided with a bearing 84, a wrist pin 85 being secured therein by a rivet 88 or other accepted method, as shown in Fig. 1. 1 A

'Ihe oblong guide portion 84 corresponding to the part 81 of Fig. 13, best shown in Figures 18 and 19, is integral with the operaiting lever bearing 84 and projects fromv said bearing 84 forming the surfaces 88 and 81 substantially parallel respectively. The .retaining iiange 88 is integral with the lever bearing 84 and the end 85 is spaced from the surface 81 of the oblong portion 84 and projects rearward. 'I'he lever guide portion 84 and the edge 85 contact with 7| aandeel the flange oi' the bracket as the operating lever moves to the release position;

An important feature of my invention has to 'do with the mounting and capacity for movement of the operating lever and its extension. It will be noted that the path of possible movement of the lever is definitely xed and the operator or workmen cannot make a mistake in operating lever, Fig 13, will be retained in the groove, between the flanges {M -52,v Fig. 9, of the bracket. It is only when the lever 63 is in its vertical position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 8, that it may be swung lto an inactive position in which it'lies substantially parallel to the roof of the car and alongside of and closely adjacent to the hatch frame. When in this position it can move only toward a vertical position.

Speciiically, the operation is as follows:

With the hatch cover manually moved to the position in Figure 5,v I complete the closing by means of the mechanism by raising the operating lever 63 and its extension 51 from the release position shown in Figure 5 laterally to the vertical position shown in Figures 8 and 15, then lowering the lever to contact the cover bracket extension 30, as shown in Figure 4. I then continue the movement of the lever downward t'o the position shown in Figure 3 and lock the parts by moving the sliding bar 18 of the operating lever 63 into engagement with the surface 35 .of the hatch cover bracket 38 completing the closing, as shown in Figures l, 2 and 3. rhe sliding bar 18 has a lug 'I9 apertured for the use of the railroad seal means to prevent pilfering or unauthorizedvchange of the hatch position. To apply said seal I encircle the operating lever rearward section, then thread theseal through the aperture 86 of the slide bar 18 and assemble the ends of the seal.

To open the hatch cover 8, I release the operating lever 63 by moving the slide bar 18 out of engagement, reaction of the gasket Il raising the hatch cover slightly as in the Figure 4. From this position I move the operating lever 63 upward to the vertical position as in Figures 8 and 15 and then laterally release it, allowing the operating lever and its extension .to gravitate to the full release position, as shown in Figure 5 and in dot and dash lines in Figure 1. I complete the opening operation by moving the cover manually to the position shown in Figure 8.

To place the hatch cover 8 in any one of the Ventilating stages I position the cover as in Figure 5 and grip the grab iron 42 with one hand and the free hand move the operating lever from the release position laterally to the vertical, then toward the hatch cover to register and engage the cross bar 'i6 of the operating lever 63 at the .Ventilating stageselected, and rest `the extension 36 of the hatch cover bracket 26 on the bar 16. The portion 3| of the extension 30 main` tains said service assembly, as shown in Figure 7. To prevent pilfering or unauthorized movement of the hatch cover the slide bolt 33 of the cover bracket 26 is moved into engagement with the operating lever ange retaining edge 11, as shown in Figure 6. The slide bolt 33 is provided with a lug 34 having aperture 36 for use Broadly, my invention comprehends a structure including an operating lever, a lever' extension and a bracket, the extension being mounted on the bracket for oscillation on. a pivot, the axis of which is normal to the adjacent side wall of the hatch opening, the lever being `mounted on the extension for oscillation on a pivot, the axis of which is parallel to the adjacent side wall, together with means carried by the bracket and the lever for strictly defining allV possible movement of the lever. In the mechanism shown the lever can be in a position 'of rest only when overlying the hatch opening and when lying alongside of and parallel to the adjacent side \wa ll of the hatch opening.

Il claim:

1. In hatch-cover operating means, for use with 'a cover and a frame, a bracket secured to the frame, an operating lever extension mounted on the bracket for oscillation on a pivot, the axis of which extends transverse tothe adjacent side-wall of the hatch opening, an operatin g lever mounted on the extension for 'oscillation on a pivot, the axis of which is parallel to the adjacent side wall of the hatch opening, and cooperating means on said bracket and said lever for dening and limitingthe movement of the lever from a position over the hatch cover to a horizontal position alongside of and parallel to said opening.

2. In hatch-cover operating means, for use with a cover and a frame, a bracket secured to the frame, an operating lever extension mounted on the bracket for oscillation on a pivot, the axis of which extends transverse to the adjacent side wall of the hatch opening, an operating lever mounted on the extension for oscillation on a pivot, the axis of which is parallel to the adjacent side wall of the hatch opening, said bracket and lever respectively having a groove and a projection for engaging the groove, whereby to provide for a dened movement of the lever from a position overlying the cover to one alongside of said opening.-

3. In a hatch-cover operating means, for use with a cover and a frame, a bracket secured to the frame, an operating lever extension mounted on the bracket'for oscillation on a pivot, the axis of whichr extends transverse to the adjacent side wall of the hatch opening, an operating lever mounted on the extension for oscillation on a pivot, the axis of which is parallel to the adjacent side wall of the hatch opening, said lever having a projection and said bracket having a way. the cooperation of said projection and way providing for free oscillation of the lever on the extension in a, plane extending over the cover without movement of the extension and also with the lever in a vertical position, providing for lateral oscillation of the lever and extension to a position alongside of the hatch opening.

4. In hatch-cover operating means, for use with a cover and a frame, a bracket secured to the frame, an operating lever extension mounted on the bracket for oscillation on a pivot, the axis of which extends transverse to the adjacent side wall of the hatch opening, an operating lever mounted on the extension for oscillation on a pivot, the axis of which is parallel to the adjacent side wall oi the hatch opening, said bracket having an arcuate groove extending parallel to the side wall of the hatch opening and said lever having two projections one of which lies alongside of the mouth of said groove when' the lever` is in other than vertical position and which projection is too wide to enter said groove and the other of which projections will register with and enter said groove when the lever is in vertical position, whereby the lever may freely swing over the cover with the lever extension locked against movement and, when in vertical position, may

swing laterally with the extension into an idle l position alongside of the hatch opening.

5. In Ahatch-cover operating means, for use with a cover and a frame, a bracket secured to the frame, an operating lever extension straddling the bracket and pivoted thereto for oscillation in parallel to the side of the hatch opening. an operating lever mounted on the extension for oscillation in a plane that intersects said opening, said lever having a projecting portion operating between the legs of the extension and engaging the bracket, and cooperating means on said bracket for defining and limiting the movement of the lever from a position over the hatch cover to a horizontal position alongside of and parallel to said opening.

6. In hatch-cover operating means, for use with a cover having an overhanging undercut projection, an operating lever of angular cross section and provided with notches in a flange oi' the angle and with stop pins between adjacent notches, said pins being adapted toselectively engage said overhanglng projection, and means for mounting said lever with capacity for controlled oscillation in planes over and alongside of said cover. whereby said lever is conilnedin its oscillation over the cover to a plane wherein the pins in the lever register with said projection.

7. In hatch-cover operating means, for use with a cover, a bracket lon the cover having an upstanding projection and a projection overhanging the edge of the cover, both said projections being undercut, an operating lever of generally channel shape having a transversely movable latch for engaging said upstanding projection and provided with spaced transverse pins for engagement with said overhanging Projection, and means for mounting said lever with capacity for oscillation in a conilned plane parallel to said projections and for folding said lever alongside said cover when not in use.

AUGUST W. L. HART'BAUER. 

